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First Look: .17 Winchester Super Magnum

The new round (center) has more than two times the downrange energy of the .17 HMR (left) and the .22 WMR (right).

Winchester has just unveiled what the company is calling “the most revolutionary rimfire cartridge in the company’s history.” The new round is touted as being the fastest rimfire in the world. According to the company, the .17 Winchester Super Magnum offers the downrange performance of a centerfire cartridge and “pinpoint accuracy and devastating performance at ranges well past 200 yards.”

The new cartridge has been in development for about three years, and it is based on a .27-caliber construction cartridge, the kind that powers nail guns and such, that has been necked down to .17 caliber. It achieves velocities about 600 fps faster than the .17 HMR rimfire with equal bullet weights, and it has more than two times the downrange energy of the .17 HMR and the .22 WMR. Its trajectory is said to be 50 percent flatter than the .17 HMR, and it has less wind drift than both the .17 HMR and the .22 WMR. Trajectory and wind drift are similar to that of the centerfire .22 Hornet.

Click to enlarge.

With muzzle velocities of 2,600 and 3,000 fps, the .17 Win. Super Mag. is being offered with three bullet types: a 20-grain jacketed hollowpoint, a 20-grain polymer tip, and a 25-grain polymer tip. The factory ballistics are shown in the accompanying chart and graphs.

Each loading comes in 50-round boxes and 500-round cases, and according to Winchester it will be on dealers’ shelves this month at a retail price that won’t break the bank.

Savage Arms has already announced that it will be chambering rifles for the new round, and another as-yet-unnamed riflemaker will be joining the party soon. Rest assured, as shooting samples become available, Shooting Times will be putting the new .17 Win. Super Mag. and the new rifles to the test.

Check out this video of Petersen’s Hunting Editor Mike Schoby at the range with the brand new .17 Win. Super Mag.

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fyreflye81672@yahoo.com

I am glad Ammunition companies are really trying to get every grain they can into a small package. My main concern is why are they having to get a company like Savage Arms to make a new rifle to carry these new cartridges? Why are they putting out a different “same caliber” rifle and not trying to work with whats already out on the market? Are companies such as Savage Arms, which, by the way, made the .22 and the .17 caliber guns I own, going to take into account that some gun owners would like the option to buy just one barrel that would take both size rounds so we dont have to buy a new gun?

Rimfire ammunition is so hot right now you cant even get certain sizes and calibers on the market. People are buying massive amounts to the point of certain retailers putting stipulations on how much you can buy. Price gouging is rampant not only in stores but on the internet too. A 500 count box of .22 caliber shells cost as much as $175.00 a box. WHY???

David Kachel

They are NOT “shells”!!
Shotguns use shells. Rifles and handguns use cartridges. And NO, they are not the same thing!

Steve Shults

When a retailer gets a shipment of .22 ammo, and its gone in a few minutes,the law of supply and demand comes in to play. When someone buys ammo for the sole purpose of getting double or more on their ammo,more fuel on the fire. How many people need 20, 30, or more bricks of ammo sitting on their shelf. The price of ammo will keep going up as long as this continues. We the people are our own worst enemy. I drove past sportsman warehouse around 8:30 am the other day,and was amazed to see at least a 100 people standing in line to get ammo, mostly .22. Is it going to be cheaper to hunt ground squirrels with a 30-06?

David Hoffman

Wow, another “me too” 17 caliber rimfire. I have a 17 M2 and a 17 Remington. Both are highly accurate and no doubt this round is too. Unfortunately, no matter how fast or accurate it is, it is still limited by a 25 grain pill. Nothing much happens to targets or game when hit with it. Neck it up to.204 top it with a 40 grain bullet that’s 600-800 feet faster per second than a 22 magnum and prepare for a long waiting list. Are you listening Ruger? I’d like mine in a scaled down Ruger #1 action with interchangeable barrels please.